Smart card with sensors for detecting environmental conditions

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, a smart card may include a substrate with a first side and a second side. A first protective layer covers the first side and a second protective layer covers the second side of the substrate. Circuitry held in the substrate includes electronic interconnects for interconnecting circuitry elements. The circuitry elements include a processor, power circuitry for powering the circuitry elements, and an environmental detection sensor for respectively detecting a predetermined environmental parameter. The processor is configured to receive an output from the environmental detection sensor, to determine from the output that the environmental detection sensor detected an environmental alert trigger condition, and to generate an alert that is representative of the environmental alert trigger condition. The protective layers include pores in a region proximate to the environmental detection sensor for exposing the environmental detection sensor to an environment around the smart card.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and dataas described below and in drawings that form a part of this document:Copyright, Capital One Services, LLC., All Rights Reserved.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure generally relates to an improved smart card withsensors for detecting environmental conditions.

BACKGROUND OF TECHNOLOGY

A smart card also known as a chip card, or an integrated circuit card,is a physical electronic authorization device which controls access to aresource. A smart card may include an embedded integrated circuit (IC)chip.

SUMMARY OF DESCRIBED SUBJECT MATTER

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an exemplarytechnically improved smart card that may include at least the followingcomponents of:

-   -   a substrate with a first side and a second side;    -   a first protective layer and second protective layer;    -   wherein the first protective layer may cover the first side and        the second protective layer may cover the second side of the        substrate;    -   circuitry held in the substrate may include a plurality of        electronic interconnects for interconnecting a plurality of        circuitry elements;    -   wherein the plurality of circuitry elements may include:        -   (i) at least one environmental detection sensor for            respectively detecting at least one predetermined            environmental parameter;        -   (ii) power circuitry for powering the circuitry elements;            and        -   (iii) a processor;    -   wherein the processor may be configured to:        -   receive an output from the at least one environmental            detection sensor;        -   determine from the output that the at least one            environmental detection sensor detected the at least one            predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one            environmental alert trigger condition; and        -   generate an alert that is representative of the at least one            environmental alert trigger condition; and    -   wherein the first protective layer, the second protective layer,        or both, may include a plurality of pores in at least one region        proximate to the at least one environmental detection sensor        held in the substrate for exposing the at least one        environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an        environment around the smart card.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an exemplarytechnically improved computer-based method that includes at least thefollowing steps of:

-   -   receiving, by a processor in circuitry of a smart card, an        output from at least one environmental detection sensor;    -   wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor may be        held in a substrate;    -   wherein the smart card may be configured to expose the at least        one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an        environment around the smart card for respectively detecting at        least one predetermined environmental parameter;    -   determining, by the processor, from the output that the at least        one environmental detection sensor detected the at least one        predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one        environmental alert trigger condition; and    -   generating, by the processor, an alert that is representative of        the at least one environmental alert trigger condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present disclosure can be further explainedwith reference to the attached drawings, wherein like structures arereferred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawingsshown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generallybeing placed upon illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representativebasis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ one ormore illustrative embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts a region of an environment around a smart card fordetecting environmental conditions, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of two exemplary embodiments of asystem using a smart card for detecting environmental conditions, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a smart card for detecting environmentalconditions, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 depicts a terminal for charging a smart card configured to detectenvironmental conditions, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts a system for using a smart card to perform operations ona terminal, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for detecting environmentalconditions with a smart card, in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various detailed embodiments of the present disclosure, taken inconjunction with the accompanying figures, are disclosed herein;however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely illustrative. In addition, each of the examples given inconnection with the various embodiments of the present disclosure isintended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.

Throughout the specification, the following terms take the meaningsexplicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. The phrases “in one embodiment” and “in some embodiments” asused herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), thoughit may. Furthermore, the phrases “in another embodiment” and “in someother embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to adifferent embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, variousembodiments may be readily combined, without departing from the scope orspirit of the present disclosure.

In addition, the term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for beingbased on additional factors not described, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, themeaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaningof “in” includes “in” and “on.”

It is understood that at least one aspect/functionality of variousembodiments described herein can be performed in real-time and/ordynamically. As used herein, the term “real-time” is directed to anevent/action that can occur instantaneously or almost instantaneously intime when another event/action has occurred. For example, the “real-timeprocessing,” “real-time computation,” and “real-time execution” allpertain to the performance of a computation during the actual time thatthe related physical process (e.g., a user interacting with anapplication on a mobile device) occurs, in order that results of thecomputation can be used in guiding the physical process.

As used herein, the term “dynamically” and term “automatically,” andtheir logical and/or linguistic relatives and/or derivatives, mean thatcertain events and/or actions can be triggered and/or occur without anyhuman intervention. In some embodiments, events and/or actions inaccordance with the present disclosure can be in real-time and/or basedon a predetermined periodicity of at least one of: nanosecond, severalnanoseconds, millisecond, several milliseconds, second, several seconds,minute, several minutes, hourly, several hours, daily, several days,weekly, monthly, etc.

As used herein, the term “runtime” corresponds to any behavior that isdynamically determined during an execution of a software application orat least a portion of software application.

In some embodiments, the term “smart card” can refer to an electroniccard with at least one embedded microprocessor. In some embodiments, thesmart card may be dimensioned and/or be utilized such as, but notlimited to, a conventional credit or debit card issued to accountholders by banks and other financial institutions. In some embodiments,the smart card may be dimensioned and/or be utilized such as, but notlimited to, personal identification cards, health entitlement cards,store loyalty cards, stored value cards (electronic purses), informationstorage cards, and the like. In some embodiments, the smart card may bedimensioned, but not limited to, in accordance with internationalstandard ISO/IEC 7810, ID-1 format, which specifies dimensions of 85.60mm (85.60×10-3 m) long by 53.98 mm (53.98×10-3 m) wide. In someembodiments, the smart card may be dimensioned, but not limited to, inaccordance with international standard ISO/IEC 7813 further specifiesthe thickness as 0.76 mm (0.76×10-3 m). For example, the smart card maybe made of a plastic material, metal or similar material, and may haveconvenient overall dimensions of 7.5 cm by 11 cm by 1 cm similar to acommon wallet.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a smart card fordetecting at least one environmental condition and methods of usethereof. A smart card may include circuitry further includingenvironmental detection sensors such as a smoke detector, a radon gasdetector, and/or a carbon monoxide detector, for detecting environmentalhazards. The environmental detection sensors may be disposed on asubstrate with a first side and a second side. A first protective coverand a second protective cover may be used to respectively cover thefirst side and the second side of the substrate for protecting thecircuitry. Furthermore, the first protective cover and/or the secondprotective cover may include a plurality of pores in a region proximateto the environmental detection sensors disposed on the substrate forexposing the environmental detection sensors to an environment aroundthe smart card. Additionally, and/or optionally, the smart card mayinclude functionality to allow a user to perform secure operations in acomputing system of an entity, such transactions with a merchant on aterminal, for example.

In some embodiments and, optionally, in combination of any embodimentdescribed above or below, the at least one environmental condition maybe one of: temperature, humidity, vibration, shock, sound, light,presence of air contaminant, acceleration, pH, location, presence of atleast one odor, presence of at least one gas (e.g. volatile organiccompounds (VOC), nitrogen, ozone, CO2), air pressure, and anycombination thereof. For example, the gas sensors may measure one ormore of ethylene, ammonia, acetylene, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen.In some embodiments, the at least one environmental condition mayinclude at least one environmental hazard condition that may negativelyaffect, without limitation, at least one of a health of a human beingand/or an animal, or physical integrity of a physical object.

The terms “environmental alert trigger condition” or “environmentalhazard trigger condition” may refer to value(s) and/or rule(s) that maybe defined for environmental parameter(s) of the at least oneenvironmental condition. For example, illustrative environmental alerttrigger conditions or environmental hazard trigger conditions may bewhen a detected/observed concentration level of a gas and/or aparticulate matter in the air is greater than a predefined concentrationlevel than a safe level that may be defined/mandated by a regulation.The “environmental alert trigger condition” or “environmental hazardtrigger condition” may include a predefined time period of exposure toan environmental hazard condition.

The term “predetermined environmental parameter” as defined herein mayrefer to a predetermined value of an environmental parameter that may beutilized to measure an environmental condition, such as a detectedconcentration level of CO, CO2, particulate material and/or radon gasconcentration levels in the environment, for example.

FIG. 1 depicts a region 5 of an environment around a smart card 20 fordetecting environmental conditions, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows a user 10 with smartcard 20 in a pant's pocket or on a belt of the user. User 10 may be in aregion near to a fire, for example. Smoke 23 emanating from the fire maypermeate 25 region 5 around smart card 20. Smoke 23 may reach user 10.Smoke 23 may be present in a low enough concentration that user 10 maynot sense it. However, smoke detectors disposed in the circuitry ofsmart card 20 may detect small concentrations of smoke 23 in environment5. Smart card 20 may be configured to communicate 27 with mobile device15 of user 10 and send an alert to computing device 15 of user 10 foralerting user 10 of the smoke and fire hazard detected in environment 5.

The embodiments taught herein provide a technical solution to theproblem of providing compact environmental detection sensors fordetecting hazardous environmental conditions. Most consumer gradeenvironmental detection sensors are not mounted in a form factor ofsmart card, but are typically mounted on a wall, for example, and notportable. The environmental detection sensors integrated on a smart cardas taught herein also provides environmental hazard detection in placeswhere mounted detectors may not be deployed, or as a backup in caseenvironmental detection sensors fail.

In some embodiments, smart card 20 may be of any suitable size. Smartcard 20 may be the size of a standard credit card, for example,typically 85.60×53.98 mm (3.37×2.13 inches) with a typical thickness of30 mils (0.76 mm). However, the dimensions of the compact environmentaldetection sensors may be substantially smaller than these dimensions tofit in smart card 20.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of two exemplary embodiments of asystem 29 using smart card 20 for detecting environmental conditions, inaccordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.System 29 may include smart card 20, a base station 30, and mobiledevice 15, all communicating 33 over a communication network 35.

In some embodiments, smart card 20 may include a processor 32,environmental detection sensor(s) and circuitry 40, a memory 50, analarm indicator lamp 52, communication circuitry and interface 54including an antenna for communicating 33 over communication network 35,a Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chip 56, a battery 58, and powercircuitry 60 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In some embodiments, base station 30 may include a processor 65, inputand output (I/O) devices 70, a memory 72 and communication circuitry andinterface 69 for communicating 33 over communication network 35 as shownin FIGS. 2A and 2B. Processor 65 may be configured to execute code suchas alert manager module 67 for generating an alert to user 10 that apredetermined environmental alert trigger condition exists uponreceiving an alert indication from smart card 20.

In some embodiments, base station 30 may be a fixed computing device,such as a fixed console in a central location of region 5. Base station30 may be in an office of a company, for example, within or near region5 and configured to communicate 33 with smart card 20 over communicationnetwork 35. When an alert indication is received from smart card 20,base station 30 may generate an alert, such as a sounding an audioalarm, to alert persons in and/or around region 5 that an environmentalert trigger condition exists, namely that the environmental detectionsensors deployed in smart card 20 of user 10 detected at least onepredetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one predeterminedenvironmental alert trigger condition.

In some embodiments, computing device 15 of user 10, such as a mobiledevice, may include a processor 80, input and output (I/O) devices 87, amemory 90 and communication circuitry and interface 85 for communicating33 over communication network 35 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Processor65 may be configured to execute code such as alert manager module 82 forgenerating an alert to the user that a predetermined environmental alerttrigger condition exists upon receiving an alert indication from smartcard 20.

In some embodiments, computing device 15 may include an alarm 92 whichmay be activated to alert user 10 upon receiving an alert indicationfrom smart card 20 over communication network 35.

In some embodiments, smart card 20 may be paired with computing device15 using a short distance wireless technology standard such asBluetooth, for example. Processor 32 may be configured to send an alertto processor 80 using Bluetooth so as to cause alert manager 82 toactivate an audio alert using alarm 92 to user 10.

In some embodiments, an environment detection sensor 41 as shown in FIG.2A may be used to detect the at least one environmental condition. Inother embodiments as shown in FIG. 2B, the environmental detectionsensor(s) may be selected from, but are not limited to, a smoke sensor42, a radon gas sensor 44 and a carbon monoxide sensor 46.

In some embodiments, any suitable detection circuitry such asamplifiers, analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, for example, may be usedto couple outputs from the environmental detection sensors to processor32 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Processor 32 may then determine from theoutput whether any of the environmental detection sensors detected apredetermined environmental alert trigger condition. When processor 32may detect the predetermined environmental alert trigger condition,processor 32 may generate an alert to the user. For example, in someembodiments, processor 32 may cause alarm indicator lamp 52 to be lit bya drive output from driver amplifiers in the detection circuitry and/ora speaker disposed in smart card 20 may sound an alert signal to user10. In other embodiments, processor 32 may send an alert indication overcommunication network 35 to alert manager 67 and/or alert manager 82 ofbase station 30 and computing device 15, respectively, that may be eachconfigured to generate a visual and/or an audio alarm.

In some embodiments, an illustrative carbon monoxide sensor 46 mayinclude solid state sensors, such as Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems(MEMS) sensors, for example, Teledyne Micralyne Metal Oxide MEMS sensorsfrom Micralyne, Inc, Alberta, Canada on a 1.6×1.6 mm die. In otherembodiments, an illustrative carbon monoxide sensor 46 may include anarray of gold nanotubes where the Au nanotubes convert the CO moleculesto CO2 molecules releasing free electrons that may be detected indetection circuitry. The size of individual gold nanoparticles typicallyranges from 5 nm to 400 nm in diameter.

In other embodiments, an illustrative carbon monoxide sensor 46 maydetect the predetermined environmental parameter of CO levels in region5. Processor 32 may generate an alert representative of a CO alertcondition. The CO alert condition may include, for example, when carbonmonoxide sensor 46 detects predefined CO levels of 40 ppm for apredetermined time period of 10 hours, 50 ppm for 8 hours, 70 ppm for1-4 hours, 150 ppm for 10-50 minutes, and 400 ppm for 4 to 15 minutes.Note that 500 ppm is the maximum allowable concentration for continuousCO exposure over an 8 hour period, as set by the U.S. OccupationalSafety and Health Administration (OSHA).

In some embodiments, the illustrative smoke sensor 42 may be sensitiveenough to detect minute concentrations of smoke and/or otherparticulates in the air around the smart card indicative of a fire, evenwhen open fires and/or smoldering fires have not yet developed, and totrigger an alarm signal to alert the user. Smoke sensor 42 may includeany combination of photoelectric, electrochemical, and/or ionizationtype smoke sensors. Photoelectric sensors may use light emitting diodesfor detecting particulate matter in the air indicative of smoke, such assmoke generated from a fire. See for example, 2×3 mm Multimode sensorfront end from Analog Devices ADFD4000/ADFD4001, Norwood, Mass.Electrochemical sensors.

Smoke sensor 42 may be implemented in MEMS for detecting CO, CO2 and H₂indicative of a fire. For example, a Palladium-doped Tin dioxide withparticle size of about 10 nm deposited on MEMS substrate may be used todetect changes in CO with a 50-ppb detection limit. (See for example,MEWS system for fire detection in the Forest, V. Guernieri, et al,Proceedings of IMCS 2012—The 14th International Meeting on ChemicalSensors, p. 1173).

In some embodiments, the illustrative smoke sensor 42 may use infraredgas sensing to detect particulates in the air in region 5. With thesetype of detectors, detecting particulates over a 24-hour time period maybe used to trigger an alarm when the particulate densities in the airmay be greater than predefined levels of 35 μg/m³ for particulates withdiameters less than 2.5 μm, and 150 μg/m³ for particulates withdiameters between 2.5-10 μm in the air, for example.

In some embodiments, the illustrative radon gas sensor 44 may detectalpha particle decay associated with radon gas molecules using a matrixof NPN transistors driving an analog-to-digital converter. (See, forexample, ARIA module, Rsens, Modena, Italy.) Radon gas concentrationsmay fluctuate between 5-15 Becquerel per cubic meter (Bq/m³) outdoorsand from 10-10,000 Bq/m³ indoors. The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) stipulates that corrective measures be taken when radon gasconcentration levels are above 148 Bq/m³. Therefore, when radon gasconcentration levels at any time reach a predefined level of 148 Bq/m³for example, an alert may be generated, for example, by processor 32sending an indication to alert managers 67 and 82 and/or processor 32causing alarm indicator lamp 52 to be lit.

Although smoke sensor 42, radon gas sensor 44 and CO sensor 46 are shownin FIG. 2 as environmental detection sensors and circuitry 40 in smartcard 20, this is not by way of limitation of the exemplary embodimentsshown herein. Any environmental detection sensor 40 that may fit intothe form factor of smart card 20 may be deployed on smart card 20 fordetecting any predetermined environmental parameter, such as low-levelconcentrations of toxic gases, for example, indicative of environmentalhazards.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a smart card 100 for detectingenvironmental conditions, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present disclosure. Smart card 100, and smart card 20 from theprevious figures, may include a top output layer 102. The top outputlayer may be a film covering, a plastic covering, and/or the like. Thetop output layer 102 may be constructed of scratch-resistant and/orscratch-proof materials. Materials that may be used as a top outer layer102 may include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA),acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PET-G), polyester film orplastic sheet (e.g., Mylar), polycarbonate (PC), and/or the like.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may further include a top shieldinglayer 104, such as a clear scratch-resistant coating and/orscratch-proof material to protect the underlying components. Forexample, various scratch-resistant materials include materials coatedwith a scratch resistant chemical coating, such as a UV curable chemicalcoating. Scratch-proof materials may include a mineral glass, a sapphireglass, thin film alloys, ITO, ZnO, PVC, PET, BoPET (e.g., Mylar),polyvinylidene fluoride (e.g., Kynar), polyvinylidene difluoride, PCand/or PET-G. The term “first protective layer” may refer to herein astop output layer 102, top shielding layer 104, or both.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include a potting 106 or fillerepoxy around the electrical components to provide strength and/or waterresistance. Potting 106 may be formed using injection molding, such asover molding and/or multi-shot to encapsulate the components of smartcard 100. For example, injection molding may include ABS, thermoplasticelastomers (TPE), thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), thermoplasticpolyurethane (TPU), PET, polycarbonates (PC), cold lamination of theouter films to the body of the card using thermoactive adhesives, hotlamination of the outer films to the body of the card using thermoactiveadhesives, and/or silicone.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include an EMV chip 112 with anumber of contacts that may interact with and/or be connected to aterminal with an EMV card reader, for example, that is configured toread data stored on EMV chip 112. During an EMV transaction, applicationcryptograms may be used to send and receive data packets between thesmart card 100 and a terminal, such as a merchant terminal. For example,data packets may include user authentication information which anacquisition system and/or issuing financial institution may use toauthenticate a smart card 100 during a transaction. Variouscryptographic protocols and/or methods may be used in this datatransmission and reception process. Moreover, during a transactionissuing financial institutions and/or acquisition systems may returnscript commands to the EMV chip 112 via a terminal. These scriptcommands and/or data packets may be transmitted between parties over anetwork (e.g., communication network 35). Script commands may be used,for example, to block transactions, change transaction data stored onthe EMV chip (e.g., transaction history, account limits, accountbalance, and/or the like). Offline data authentication may also takeplace using, for example public key cryptography to perform payment dataauthentication. For example, offline data authentication may use StaticData Authentication (SDA), Dynamic Data Authentication (DDA), and/orCombined Data Authentication (CDA).

In some embodiments, processor 32 of smart card 100 may receive outputsfrom at least one environmental detection sensor 114. The at least oneenvironmental detection sensor may include, but is not limited to, smokesensor 42, radon gas sensor 44, and CO sensor 46, as shown in FIG. 2.The at least one environmental detection sensor may include sensors fordetecting any type of noxious, toxic, and/or poisonous gas in theenvironment around smart card 100 when the concentration levels are lowenough that the user may not yet sense the hazard.

In some embodiments, a porous membrane 138 may be formed with aplurality of pores 140 in top output layer 102 and/or top protectivelayer 104 so as to expose environmental detection sensors 114 to anenvironment around smart card 100.

In some embodiments, other sensors not shown in FIG. 2 which are notrelated to detecting predetermined environmental parameters as discussedhereinabove may be placed in any portion of smart card 100 to detect,for example, touch, light, heat, energy, and/or the like. For example, asensor may be placed around the outer edges of a smart card 100 or atany spot within the smart card 100. Other sensors also may include theentire exterior surface of smart card 100. The other sensors may includean activation sensor, an operation sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, apiezoelectric sensor, an inductive sensor, load cells, a light sensor, atemperature sensor, a resistive touchscreen, including, for example, ananalogue matrix real (AMR) sensors, and/or the like. The other sensorsmay include accelerometers and/or photosensors to detect motion input.

In some embodiments, a display 116 may be provided within the smart card100. Although the display as shown includes, for example, a dot matrixdisplay, a number of other display options may be included in the smartcard 100. Display 116 may be configured to display an alert to user 10about the type of environmental hazard detected in the region aroundsmart card 100 (e.g., region 5 in FIG. 1) and/or the concentrationlevels of gases and/or particulate matter in the environment.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include a display driver 118that translates instructions from a microcontroller 124 into displayimages to be displayed using display components 116. A display driver118 may include an integrated circuit (IC), a state machine, and/or thelike that provides an interface function between the display and themicrocontroller 124. A display driver 118 may include memory (e.g., RAM,Flash, ROM, and/or the like) and/or firmware that includes font displaydata.

In some embodiments, microcontroller 124 may include a processor such asprocessor 32 in FIG. 2 executing firmware for managing output signalsfrom environmental detection sensors 114 and/or for managing otherfunctions of smart card 100 such as performing operations at a terminal(e.g., merchant transactions at a merchant terminal).

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include an antenna 126. Antenna126 may include, for example, a loop antenna, a fractal antenna, and/orthe like. Antenna 126 may transmit to and receive signals from computingdevice 15. Communication circuitry may be used to communication anyfunctions performed by smart card 100 over a communication network suchas in communication network 35 in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, microcontroller 224 may communicate with EMV chip112, sensor(s) 114, power management 130, antenna 126, energy storagecomponent 128, display 116, display driver 118, and/or any othercomponent of smart card 100. Microcontroller 124 may control the cardoperations to conduct transactions and/or display data as describedthroughout this specification.

In some embodiments, when microcontroller 224 may detect from the outputof environmental detection sensors detecting predetermined environmentalparameters meeting an environmental alert trigger condition, theprocessor of microcontroller 124 may generate an alert that isrepresentative of the detected environmental alert trigger condition(e.g., environmental hazard trigger condition).

In various embodiments, microcontroller 224 may generate an alert fordisplay on display 116. Microcontroller 224 may generate an alert thatis sent over communication network 35 to alert manager 67 on basestation 30 and/or to alert manager 82 on computing device 15 (e.g.,mobile device of user 10). Microcontroller 224 may generate an audioalarm through a speaker 142 mounted on smart card 100 through an opening145 on top output layer 102. Microcontroller 224 may generate a visualalert by illuminating an indicator lamp 141 mounted on smart card 100through an opening 144 on top output layer 102.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include an energy storagecomponent 128, such as a battery. Although energy storage component 128is depicted as a single component, energy storage component 128 mayinclude a series of energy storage components. By way of example, energystorage component 128 may include a lithium polymer battery, alithium-metal battery, lithium-ceramic battery, and/or any other type ofbattery. Energy storage component 128 may be constructed out of rigidmaterials, semiflexible materials, and/or flexible materials. Energystorage component 128 may provide power to a plurality of circuitryelements of smart card 100. Energy storage component 128 may be, forexample, a battery/potting component also providing mechanical supportto smart card 100.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include a power managementcomponent 130 that may manage the charging and discharging of energystorage component 128. Power management component 230 may convertvoltage to a predetermined level in order to operate smart card 100 asdiscussed throughout the specification. Power management component 130and/or energy storage 128 may include, for example, solar power cells toconvert solar energy into an electrical current within a solar panel.Power management component 130 and/or energy storage component 128 mayinclude connections to the other sensors to receive input and activatesmart card 100 (e.g., motion input, thermal input, manual input, touchinput, and/or the like).

In some embodiments, an ultracapacitor 117 may provide fast powering ofthe smart card circuitry, fast charging of energy storage component 128,such as a battery, coupled to the circuitry, or both, when connected toan external terminal. In other embodiments, near field communication(NFC) circuitry 115 may provide powering the smart card circuitry,charging of energy storage component 128, such as a battery, coupled tothe circuitry, or both when smart card 100 may be placed within anexternally generated electromagnetic field configured to excite NFCcircuitry 115.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include a substrate 132, such asa flexible printed circuit board (PCB) with a first side and a secondside (e.g., a top side and a bottom side). Substrate 132 may include aPCB mounted in a flexible plastic substrate, such as for example, apolyimide, polyether ether ketone, and/or a transparent conductivepolyester film. A flexible PCB may be printed, using, for example screenprinting, 3D printing, and/or the like, to arrange circuits on amaterial, such as polyester.

In some embodiments, substrate 132 may hold a plurality of circuitryelements that may be interconnected with a plurality of electronicinterconnects 133. The electronic interconnects may be coupled to thefirst side of substrate 132, the second side of substrate 132, or bothfor connecting the smart card circuitry to an external terminal, forexample. The plurality of circuitry elements may include at least: (1)at least one environmental detection sensor for respectively detectingat least one predetermined environmental parameter (e.g., smoke, CO,and/or radon concentration levels), (2) power circuitry for powering thecircuitry elements (e.g., battery, power management circuitry,ultracapacitors, and/or near field circuitry), or (3) a processor (e.g.,processor 32 such as in microcontroller 224).

In some embodiments, the flexible PCB may include electronic componentsand connections that power smart card 100. The flexible PCB may controland/or provide integration between the components of card 100. Forexample, flexible PCB may mechanically support and electrically connectthe electronic components of smart card 100 using, for example,conductive tracks, pads, and/or other features (e.g., interconnects133). A flexible PCB may also provide antenna support.

In some embodiments, substrate 132 may include a flexible printedcircuit (FPC), which may be used in place of or in conjunction withflexible PCB. FPC may be fabricated with photolithographic technology,such as light exposure of a film material laminated to substrate and/orconductive layers (e.g., interconnects 133). FPC may be printed,silkscreened, and/or the like. FPC may be used as a structural memberfor the electronic components of smart card 100.

In some embodiments, smart card 100 may include a chassis 134 as a frameor supporting structure. Chassis 134 may be a mount for a flexible PCB132 and may be constructed out of flexible or semi-flexible material aswell. Chassis 134 may be constructed out of a number of materials,including but not limited to, PVC, PC, ABS, styrene, polycarbonate,polyester, PET, any material that is easily molded, deposited, or lasercut (e.g., organic or inorganic material such as paper, plastic, and/orengineered ceramics), and/or the like. Chassis 134 may be constructedout of a conductive material. Chassis 134 may increase the rigidity ofsmart card 100 to prevent damage.

Card backing 136 may be made of similar material to that of the outputlayer 102 and/or the top shielding layer 104. Card backing 136 may bemade out of a plastic material. Card backing 136 may also be referred toherein as a “second protective layer”. Furthermore, porous membrane 138may also be disposed in card backing 136 (e.g., in the second protectivelayer) for exposing environment detection sensors 114 held in substrate132 to the environment around smart card 100.

It should be noted that the terms “first protective layer” and “secondprotective layer” may be used interchangeably and porous membrane 138may be disposed on either the first protective layer, second protectivelayer, or both. The first protective layer and the second protectivelayer may cover the first side and the second side of substrate 132. Theterm “proximate” with regard to the plurality of pores 140 in porousmembrane 138 are in a region proximate to environmental detectionsensors 114 refers to the pores being close enough and/or touchingenvironmental detection sensors 114 in smart card 100 so as to allowenvironmental detection sensors 114 to sample and/or to be coupled tothe environment in region 5 around smart card 100.

The term “porous membrane” 138 may refer to a region formed in the firstprotective layer, the second protective layer, or both having theplurality of pores. Porous membrane 138 may be formed directly in thefirst protective layer, the second protective layer, or both, by thesame processes used to form those respective layers. Porous membrane 138may be formed externally from any suitable material and bonded onto ahole exposing environmental detection sensors 114 held in the substratefor covering environmental detection sensors 114, yet while allowingenvironmental detection sensors 114 to sample the environment in region5 around smart card 100.

FIG. 4 depicts a terminal 210 for charging smart card 20 configured todetect environmental conditions, in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure. A hand of user 10 may be used toinsert smart card 20 into a slot 200 of terminal 210.

In some embodiments, terminal 210 as shown in FIG. 4 may be a point ofsale (POS) terminal managed by an entity such as a merchant, forexample. In other embodiments, terminal 210 may be any suitable smartcard charger used for charging battery 58 and/or ultracapacitor 64 forpowering circuitry of smart card 20 when smart card 20 is not in contactwith terminal 210.

FIG. 5 depicts a system 215 for using smart card 20 to performoperations on terminal 210, in accordance with one or more embodimentsof the present disclosure. Terminal 210 may be a computing terminalmanaged by a server 280 of an entity such as a merchant. The term“entity” may refer to a person, an individual, a group of individuals, apartnership, an organization, and/or a business. The entity may performoperations or transactions with users, such as customers of the entity,on terminal 210 managed by entity server 280 over communication network35. Charging circuitry 230 may include interconnects and/or conductiveinterfaces to contact smart card 100 when placed in slot 200 of terminal210 so as to charge the smart card circuitry while in slot 200 and/or tocharge energy storage component 128.

In some embodiments, terminal 210 may include an EMV chip reader 220,charging circuitry 230, a processor 250, a memory 260, I/O devices 270,and communication circuitry and interface 240 for communicating 33 withentity server 280 over communication network 35.

In some embodiments, user 10 may insert smart card 20 into slot 200 andinto EMV reader 220. EMV reader 220 may read the authenticationinformation stored on EMV chip 56 such as personal identificationinformation about user 10, permissions for performing operations insystem 215, and/or a credit card number associated with an account ofuser 10 to allow financial transactions between user 10 and the entity,such as for the purchase of good and/or services sold by the entity, forexample.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 300 for detectingenvironmental conditions with smart card 20, in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure. Method 300 may be performedby processor 32.

Method 300 may include receiving 310, by processor 32 in circuitry ofsmart card 20, an output from at least one environmental sensor wherethe smart card is configured to expose the at least one environmentalsensor to an environment around the smart card for respectivelydetecting at least one predetermined environmental parameter.

Method 300 may include determining 320 for the output that the at leastone environmental detection sensor detected at least one predeterminedenvironmental parameter meeting at least one environmental alert triggercondition.

Method 300 may include generating 330 an alert that is representative ofthe at least one environmental alert trigger condition.

In some embodiments, exemplary inventive, specially programmed computingsystems/platforms with associated devices are configured to operate inthe distributed network environment, communicating with one another overone or more suitable data communication networks (e.g., the Internet,satellite, etc.) and utilizing one or more suitable data communicationprotocols/modes such as, without limitation, IPX/SPX, X.25, AX.25,AppleTalk™, TCP/IP (e.g., HTTP), near-field wireless communication(NFC), RFID, Narrow Band Internet of Things (NBIOT), 3G, 4G, 5G, GSM,GPRS, WiFi, WiMax, CDMA, satellite, ZigBee, and other suitablecommunication modes. In some embodiments, the NFC can represent ashort-range wireless communications technology in which NFC-enableddevices are “swiped,” “bumped,” “tap” or otherwise moved in closeproximity to communicate. In some embodiments, the NFC could include aset of short-range wireless technologies, typically requiring a distanceof 10 cm or less. In some embodiments, the NFC may operate at 13.56 MHzon ISO/IEC 18000-3 air interface and at rates ranging from 106 kbit/s to424 kbit/s. In some embodiments, the NFC can involve an initiator and atarget; the initiator actively generates an RF field that can power apassive target. In some embodiments, this can enable NFC targets to takevery simple form factors such as tags, stickers, key fobs, or cards thatdo not require batteries. In some embodiments, the NFC's peer-to-peercommunication can be conducted when a plurality of NFC-enable devices(e.g., smartphones) within close proximity of each other.

The material disclosed herein may be implemented in software or firmwareor a combination of them or as instructions stored on a machine-readablemedium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. Amachine-readable medium may include any medium and/or mechanism forstoring or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine(e.g., a computing device). For example, a machine-readable medium mayinclude read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magneticdisk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices;electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals(e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), andothers.

As used herein, the terms “computer module”, “module”, “computer engine”and “engine” identify at least one software component and/or acombination of at least one software component and at least one hardwarecomponent which are designed/programmed/configured to manage/controlother software and/or hardware components (such as the libraries,software development kits (SDKs), objects, etc.).

Examples of hardware elements may include processors, microprocessors,circuits, circuit elements (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors,inductors, and so forth), integrated circuits, application specificintegrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLD), digitalsignal processors (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), logicgates, registers, semiconductor device, chips, microchips, chip sets,and so forth. In some embodiments, the one or more processors may beimplemented as a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) or ReducedInstruction Set Computer (RISC) processors; x86 instruction setcompatible processors, multi-core, or any other microprocessor orcentral processing unit (CPU). In various implementations, the one ormore processors may be dual-core processor(s), dual-core mobileprocessor(s), and so forth.

Computer-related systems, computer systems, and systems, as used herein,include any combination of hardware and software. Examples of softwaremay include software components, operating system software, middleware,firmware, software modules, routines, subroutines, functions, methods,procedures, software interfaces, application program interfaces (API),instruction sets, computer code, computer code segments, words, values,symbols, or any combination thereof. Determining whether an embodimentis implemented using hardware elements and/or software elements may varyin accordance with any number of factors, such as desired computationalrate, power levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input datarates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and otherdesign or performance constraints.

One or more aspects of at least one embodiment may be implemented byrepresentative instructions stored on a machine-readable medium whichrepresents various logic within the processor, which when read by amachine causes the machine to fabricate logic to perform the techniquesdescribed herein. Such representations, known as “IP cores” may bestored on a tangible, machine readable medium and supplied to variouscustomers or manufacturing facilities to load into the fabricationmachines that make the logic or processor. Of note, various embodimentsdescribed herein may, of course, be implemented using any appropriatehardware and/or computing software languages (e.g., C++, Objective-C,Swift, Java, JavaScript, Python, Perl, QT, etc.).

In some embodiments, one or more of exemplary inventive computer-basedsystems/platforms, exemplary inventive computer-based devices, and/orexemplary inventive computer-based components of the present disclosuremay include or be incorporated, partially or entirely into at least onepersonal computer (PC), laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, tablet,touch pad, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer,personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combinationcellular telephone/PDA, television, smart device (e.g., smart phone,smart tablet or smart television), mobile internet device (MID),messaging device, data communication device, and so forth.

As used herein, the term “server” should be understood to refer to aservice point which provides processing, database, and communicationfacilities. By way of example, and not limitation, the term “server” canrefer to a single, physical processor with associated communications anddata storage and database facilities, or it can refer to a networked orclustered complex of processors and associated network and storagedevices, as well as operating software and one or more database systemsand application software that support the services provided by theserver. Cloud servers are examples.

In some embodiments, as detailed herein, one or more of exemplaryinventive computer-based systems/platforms, exemplary inventivecomputer-based devices, and/or exemplary inventive computer-basedcomponents of the present disclosure may obtain, manipulate, transfer,store, transform, generate, and/or output any digital object and/or dataunit (e.g., from inside and/or outside of a particular application) thatcan be in any suitable form such as, without limitation, a file, acontact, a task, an email, a tweet, a map, an entire application (e.g.,a calculator), etc. In some embodiments, as detailed herein, one or moreof exemplary inventive computer-based systems/platforms, exemplaryinventive computer-based devices, and/or exemplary inventivecomputer-based components of the present disclosure may be implementedacross one or more of various computer platforms such as, but notlimited to: (1) AmigaOS, AmigaOS 4; (2) FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD; (3)Linux; (4) Microsoft Windows; (5) OpenVMS; (6) OS X (Mac OS); (7) OS/2;(8) Solaris; (9) Tru64 UNIX; (10) VM; (11) Android; (12) Bada; (13)BlackBerry OS; (14) Firefox OS; (15) iOS; (16) Embedded Linux; (17) PalmOS; (18) Symbian; (19) Tizen; (20) WebOS; (21) Windows Mobile; (22)Windows Phone; (23) Adobe AIR; (24) Adobe Flash; (25) Adobe Shockwave;(26) Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW); (27) Cocoa (API);(28) Cocoa Touch; (29) Java Platforms; (30) JavaFX; (31) JavaFX Mobile;(32) Microsoft XNA; (33) Mono; (34) Mozilla Prism, XUL and XULRunner;(35) .NET Framework; (36) Silverlight; (37) Open Web Platform; (38)Oracle Database; (39) Qt; (40) SAP NetWeaver; (41) Smartface; (42) Vexi;and (43) Windows Runtime.

In some embodiments, exemplary inventive computer-basedsystems/platforms, exemplary inventive computer-based devices, and/orexemplary inventive computer-based components of the present disclosuremay be configured to utilize hardwired circuitry that may be used inplace of or in combination with software instructions to implementfeatures consistent with principles of the disclosure. Thus,implementations consistent with principles of the disclosure are notlimited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.For example, various embodiments may be embodied in many different waysas a software component such as, without limitation, a stand-alonesoftware package, a combination of software packages, or it may be asoftware package incorporated as a “tool” in a larger software product.

For example, exemplary software specifically programmed in accordancewith one or more principles of the present disclosure may bedownloadable from a network, for example, a website, as a stand-aloneproduct or as an add-in package for installation in an existing softwareapplication. For example, exemplary software specifically programmed inaccordance with one or more principles of the present disclosure mayalso be available as a client-server software application, or as aweb-enabled software application. For example, exemplary softwarespecifically programmed in accordance with one or more principles of thepresent disclosure may also be embodied as a software package installedon a hardware device.

In some embodiments, exemplary inventive computer-basedsystems/platforms, exemplary inventive computer-based devices, and/orexemplary inventive computer-based components of the present disclosuremay be configured to handle numerous concurrent users that may be, butis not limited to, at least 100 (e.g., but not limited to, 100-999), atleast 1,000 (e.g., but not limited to, 1,000-9,999), at least 10,000(e.g., but not limited to, 10,000-99,999), at least 100,000 (e.g., butnot limited to, 100,000-999,999), at least 1,000,000 (e.g., but notlimited to, 1,000,000-9,999,999), at least 10,000,000 (e.g., but notlimited to, 10,000,000-99,999,999), at least 100,000,000 (e.g., but notlimited to, 100,000,000-999,999,999), at least 1,000,000,000 (e.g., butnot limited to, 1,000,000,000-999,999,999,999), and so on.

In some embodiments, exemplary inventive computer-basedsystems/platforms, exemplary inventive computer-based devices, and/orexemplary inventive computer-based components of the present disclosuremay be configured to output to distinct, specifically programmedgraphical user interface implementations of the present disclosure(e.g., a desktop, a web app., etc.). In various implementations of thepresent disclosure, a final output may be displayed on a displayingscreen which may be, without limitation, a screen of a computer, ascreen of a mobile device, or the like. In various implementations, thedisplay may be a holographic display. In various implementations, thedisplay may be a transparent surface that may receive a visualprojection. Such projections may convey various forms of information,images, and/or objects. For example, such projections may be a visualoverlay for a mobile augmented reality (MAR) application.

In some embodiments, exemplary inventive computer-basedsystems/platforms, exemplary inventive computer-based devices, and/orexemplary inventive computer-based components of the present disclosuremay be configured to be utilized in various applications which mayinclude, but not limited to, gaming, mobile-device games, video chats,video conferences, live video streaming, video streaming and/oraugmented reality applications, mobile-device messenger applications,and others similarly suitable computer-device applications.

As used herein, the term “mobile electronic device,” or the like, mayrefer to any portable electronic device that may or may not be enabledwith location tracking functionality (e.g., MAC address, InternetProtocol (IP) address, or the like). For example, a mobile electronicdevice can include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA), Blackberry™, Pager, Smartphone, or any otherreasonable mobile electronic device.

As used herein, the terms “proximity detection,” “locating,” “locationdata,” “location information,” and “location tracking” refer to any formof location tracking technology or locating method that can be used toprovide a location of, for example, a particular computingdevice/system/platform of the present disclosure and/or any associatedcomputing devices, based at least in part on one or more of thefollowing techniques/devices, without limitation: accelerometer(s),gyroscope(s), Global Positioning Systems (GPS); GPS accessed usingBluetooth™; GPS accessed using any reasonable form of wireless and/ornon-wireless communication; WiFi™ server location data; Bluetooth™ basedlocation data; triangulation such as, but not limited to, network basedtriangulation, WiFi™ server information based triangulation, Bluetooth™server information based triangulation; Cell Identification basedtriangulation, Enhanced Cell Identification based triangulation,Uplink-Time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) based triangulation, Time ofarrival (TOA) based triangulation, Angle of arrival (AOA) basedtriangulation; techniques and systems using a geographic coordinatesystem such as, but not limited to, longitudinal and latitudinal based,geodesic height based, Cartesian coordinates based; Radio FrequencyIdentification such as, but not limited to, Long range RFID, Short rangeRFID; using any form of RFID tag such as, but not limited to active RFIDtags, passive RFID tags, battery assisted passive RFID tags; or anyother reasonable way to determine location. For ease, at times the abovevariations are not listed or are only partially listed; this is in noway meant to be a limitation.

As used herein, the terms “cloud,” “Internet cloud,” “cloud computing,”“cloud architecture,” and similar terms correspond to at least one ofthe following: (1) a large number of computers connected through areal-time communication network (e.g., Internet); (2) providing theability to run a program or application on many connected computers(e.g., physical machines, virtual machines (VMs)) at the same time; (3)network-based services, which appear to be provided by real serverhardware, and are in fact served up by virtual hardware (e.g., virtualservers), simulated by software running on one or more real machines(e.g., allowing to be moved around and scaled up (or down) on the flywithout affecting the end user).

In some embodiments, the exemplary inventive computer-basedsystems/platforms, the exemplary inventive computer-based devices,and/or the exemplary inventive computer-based components of the presentdisclosure may be configured to securely store and/or transmit data byutilizing one or more of encryption techniques (e.g., private/public keypair, Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES), block cipher algorithms(e.g., IDEA, RC2, RCS, CAST and Skipjack), cryptographic hash algorithms(e.g., MD5, RIPEMD-160, RTRO, SHA-1, SHA-2, Tiger (TTH), WHIRLPOOL,RNGs). The aforementioned examples are, of course, illustrative and notrestrictive.

As used herein, the term “user” shall have a meaning of at least oneuser. In some embodiments, the terms “user”, “subscriber” “consumer” or“customer” should be understood to refer to a user of an application orapplications as described herein and/or a consumer of data supplied by adata provider. By way of example, and not limitation, the terms “user”or “subscriber” can refer to a person who receives data provided by thedata or service provider over the Internet in a browser session, or canrefer to an automated software application which receives the data andstores or processes the data.

At least some aspects of the present disclosure will now be describedwith reference to the following numbered clauses.

1. A smart card, comprising:

-   -   a substrate with a first side and a second side;    -   a first protective layer and second protective layer;    -   wherein the first protective layer covers the first side and the        second protective layer covers the second side of the substrate;    -   circuitry held in the substrate comprising a plurality of        electronic interconnects for interconnecting a plurality of        circuitry elements;    -   wherein the plurality of circuitry elements comprises:        -   (i) at least one environmental detection sensor for            respectively detecting at least one predetermined            environmental parameter;        -   (ii) power circuitry for powering the circuitry elements;            and        -   (iii) a processor;    -   wherein the processor is configured to:        -   receive an output from the at least one environmental            detection sensor;        -   determine from the output that the at least one            environmental detection sensor detected the at least one            predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one            environmental alert trigger condition; and        -   generate an alert that is representative of the at least one            environmental alert trigger condition; and    -   wherein the first protective layer, the second protective layer,        or both, comprise a plurality of pores in at least one region        proximate to the at least one environmental detection sensor        held in the substrate for exposing the at least one        environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an        environment around the smart card.        2. The smart card according to clause 1, wherein the at least        one environmental detection sensor is configured to detect        smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereof in        the environment around the smart card.        3. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the processor is configured to generate the alert when the at        least one environmental detection sensor detects a predefined        level of smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination        thereof in the environment around the smart card.        4. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the at least one environmental detection sensor comprises a        micro-electro-mechanical sensor (MEMS).        5. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the substrate comprises a printed circuit board (PCB).        6. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, further        comprising an alarm indicator lamp and detection circuitry, and        wherein the processor is configured to generate the alert by        using a drive output from the detection circuitry to light the        alarm indication lamp.        7. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the circuitry comprises communication circuitry for the smart        card to communicate with a computing device over a communication        network, and wherein the processor is configured to generate the        alert by sending the alert to the computing device over the        communication network.        8. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the electronic interconnects are coupled to the first side, the        second side, or both for connecting the circuitry in the smart        card to an external terminal.        9. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the circuitry comprises a Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) chip for        performing transactions with the external terminal.        10. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the power circuitry comprises a battery, and wherein the battery        is charged when connected to the external terminal.        11. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the circuitry further comprises an ultracapacitor for providing        fast powering of the circuitry, fast charging of a battery        coupled to the circuitry, or both, when connected to the        external terminal.        12. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the power circuitry comprises near field communication (NFC)        circuitry for powering the circuitry, charging a battery coupled        to the circuitry, or both, when the smart card is within placed        with an external electromagnetic field.        13. The smart card as in any of the preceding clauses, wherein        the first protective layer, the second protective layer, or both        comprises a porous membrane with the plurality of pores in the        at least one region.        14. A method, comprising:    -   receiving, by a processor in circuitry of a smart card, an        output from at least one environmental detection sensor;    -   wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor is held        in a substrate;    -   wherein the smart card is configured to expose the at least one        environmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an        environment around the smart card for respectively detecting at        least one predetermined environmental parameter;    -   determining, by the processor, from the output that the at least        one environmental detection sensor detected the at least one        predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least one        environmental alert trigger condition; and    -   generating, by the processor, an alert that is representative of        the at least one environmental alert trigger condition.        15. The method according to clause 14, wherein determining that        the at least one environmental detection sensor detected the at        least one predetermined environmental parameter meeting the at        least one environmental alert trigger condition comprises        determining that the at least one environmental detection sensor        detected the at least one predetermined environmental parameter        meeting the at least one environmental alert trigger condition        for a predefined period of time.        16. The method according to clauses 14 or 15, wherein the at        least one environmental detection sensor is configured to detect        smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereof in        the environment around the smart card.        17. The method according to clauses 14, 15, or 16, generating        the alert comprises generating the alert when the at least one        environmental detection sensor detects a predefined level of        smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereof in        the environment around the smart card.        18. The method according to clauses 14, 15, 16 or 17, wherein        generating the alert comprises generating the alert by using a        drive output from detection circuitry to light an alarm        indication lamp.        19. The method according to clauses 14, 15, 16, 17 or 18,        wherein generating the alert comprises generating the alert by        sending the alert to a computing device over a communication        network.        20. The method according to clauses 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19,        further comprising performing, by the processor, transactions        with an external terminal using a Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV)        chip in the circuitry when the smart card is connected to an        external terminal.

Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. While one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure have been described, it is understood that theseembodiments are illustrative only, and not restrictive, and that manymodifications may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art,including that various embodiments of the inventive methodologies, theinventive systems/platforms, and the inventive devices described hereincan be utilized in any combination with each other. Further still, thevarious steps may be carried out in any desired order (and any desiredsteps may be added and/or any desired steps may be eliminated).

1. A smart card, comprising: a substrate; at least one environmentaldetection sensor for respectively detecting at least one predeterminedenvironmental parameter; and a processor configured to: receive anoutput from the at least one environmental detection sensor; determinefrom the output that the at least one environmental detection sensordetected the at least one predetermined environmental parameter meetingat least one environmental alert trigger condition; and generate analert that is representative of the at least one environmental alerttrigger condition; wherein the processor and the at least oneenvironmental detection sensor are held in the substrate; wherein thesubstrate comprises a plurality of pores in at least one regionproximate to the at least one environmental detection sensor held in thesubstrate; and wherein the plurality of pores exposes the at least oneenvironmental detection sensor held in the substrate to an externalenvironment around the smart card.
 2. The smart card according to claim1, wherein the at least one environmental detection sensor is configuredto detect smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereofin the external environment around the smart card.
 3. The smart cardaccording to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generatethe alert when the at least one environmental detection sensor detects apredefined level of smoke, radon gas, carbon monoxide, or anycombination thereof in the external environment around the smart card.4. The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneenvironmental detection sensor comprises a micro-electro-mechanicalsensor (MEMS).
 5. The smart card according to claim 1, wherein thesubstrate comprises a printed circuit board (PCB).
 6. The smart cardaccording to claim 1, further comprising an alarm indicator lamp and adriver amplifier, and wherein the processor is configured to generatethe alert by using a drive output from the driver amplifier to light thealarm indicator lamp.
 7. The smart card according to claim 1, furthercomprising communication circuitry for the smart card to communicatewith a computing device over a communication network, and wherein theprocessor is configured to generate the alert by sending the alert tothe computing device over the communication network.
 8. The smart cardaccording to claim 1, further comprising at least one electronicinterconnect coupled to a first side of the substrate, a second side ofthe substrate, or both for connecting circuitry in the smart card to anexternal terminal.
 9. The smart card according to claim 1, furthercomprising a Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) chip for performingtransactions with an external terminal.
 10. The smart card according toclaim 1, further comprising a battery, and wherein the battery ischarged when the smart card is connected to an external terminal. 11.The smart card according to claim 10, further comprising anultracapacitor for providing fast powering of smart card circuitry, fastcharging of the battery coupled to the smart card circuitry, or both,when connected to the external terminal.
 12. The smart card according toclaim 1, further comprising near field communication (NFC) circuitry forpowering circuitry in the smart card, charging of a battery coupled tothe circuitry, or both when the smart card is within placed with anexternal electromagnetic field.
 13. The smart card according to claim 1,wherein a first protective layer on a first side of the substrate, asecond protective layer on a second side of the substrate, or bothcomprises a porous membrane with the plurality of pores in the at leastone region.
 14. The smart card according to claim 13, wherein the firstprotective layer and the second protective layer are formed frommaterials selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene terephthalateglycol-modified (PET-G), polyester film, a Mylar sheet, andpolycarbonate (PC).
 15. The smart card according to claim 1, furthercomprising an analog-to-digital converter configured to couple at leastone output from the at least one environmental detection sensor to theprocessor.
 16. The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone environmental detection sensor uses infrared gas sensing.
 17. Thesmart card according to claim 1, wherein at least one electricalcomponent held in the substrate is encapsulated using injection molding.18. The smart card according to claim 1, wherein the at least one regionis located at least one outer edge of the smart card.
 19. A system,comprising: at least one smart card; and a base station comprisingcommunication circuitry for communicating with the at least one smartcard over a communication network; wherein the at least one smart cardcomprises: a substrate; at least one environmental detection sensor forrespectively detecting at least one predetermined environmentalparameter; and a processor configured to: receive an output from the atleast one environmental detection sensor; determine from the output thatthe at least one environmental detection sensor detected the at leastone predetermined environmental parameter meeting at least oneenvironmental alert trigger condition; generate an alert that isrepresentative of the at least one environmental alert triggercondition; and send over the communication network, the alert to thebase station; wherein the processor and the at least one environmentaldetection sensor are held in the substrate; wherein the substratecomprises a plurality of pores in at least one region proximate to theat least one environmental detection sensor held in the substrate; andwherein the plurality of pores exposes the at least one environmentaldetection sensor held in the substrate to an external environment aroundthe at least one smart card; and wherein the base station, in responseto receiving the alert, is configured to: (i) send an alert indicationover the communication network to a computing device associated with auser, (ii) actuate an alarm, or both.
 20. A method, comprising:receiving, by a processor in circuitry of a smart card, an output fromat least one environmental detection sensor; wherein the smart cardcomprises a display; wherein the at least one environmental detectionsensor is held in a substrate; wherein the smart card is configured toexpose the at least one environmental detection sensor held in thesubstrate to an external environment around the smart card forrespectively detecting at least one predetermined environmentalparameter through a plurality of pores proximate to the at least oneenvironmental detection sensor and formed in the substrate; determining,by the processor, from the output that the at least one environmentaldetection sensor detected the at least one predetermined environmentalparameter meeting at least one environmental alert trigger condition;and displaying, by the processor, a hazard alert on the display to auser that is representative of the at least one environmental alerttrigger condition.